Power consumption reporting by an accessory of an electronic device

ABSTRACT

A method, system, and apparatus enables an electronic device in communication with an accessory to accurately report a remaining battery life when the accessory provides information relating to a power usage to the electronic device. In one embodiment, the accessory draws power from a battery of the electronic device, and the electronic device is able to more accurately estimate a remaining battery life by considering the power usage information provided from the accessory. The electronic device may thereafter indicate to a user the remaining battery life. In one alternative of this embodiment, the information relating to the power usage is in the form of a current consumption of the accessory. In another embodiment, the electronic device indicates a remaining battery life of a battery of an accessory.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application for Patent claims the benefit of priority from, andhereby incorporates by reference herein the entire disclosure of,co-pending U.S. Provisional Application for Patent Serial No.60/117,497, filed Jan. 27, 1999.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to the field of powerconsumption in portable electronic devices, and in particular, by way ofexample but not limitation, to determining remaining battery power whenone or more accessories is connected to a mobile terminal or otherelectronic device.

2. Description of Related Art

Many types of electronic devices utilize battery power instead of or inaddition to A/C power from a socket. For example, laptop computers,mobile terminals, camcorders, etc. usually operate on battery power.Some of these electronic devices (e.g., especially mobile terminals)attempt to communicate to the user the time remaining for which theelectronic device may be operated using the current battery before thebattery is completely (or virtually completely) depleted.

Users of mobile terminals and other electronic devices typically wish toknow the operational time remaining with an installed battery in orderto plan properly for the eventual depletion of the battery andconsequential loss of functioning of the device. For example, a user ofa mobile terminal may wish to finish a current call, reach a destinationin a car, transmit a document, or otherwise properly budget theremaining battery life in order to meet a desired objective. A user of acamcorder, as an additional example, may wish to complete the recordingof a special event, the viewing of a tape at a remote location, etc.

Providing a user with an accurate estimate of remaining battery liferequires that a current power drain be determined. Unfortunately, thisdetermination can be difficult, especially as the number and type ofpower drains on a battery of an electronic device proliferate. There istherefore a need, that is heretofore unrecognized (much less satisfied),to determine an accurate current drain on a battery of an electronicdevice when the electronic device is connected to one or moreaccessories that also draw power from the battery of the electronicdevice in order for the remaining battery life to be accuratelypredicted. There is also a need, that is heretofore unrecognized (muchless satisfied), to report a remaining battery life of a battery of anaccessory, especially for those accessories that lack any ability todirectly communicate a remaining battery life to a user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The deficiencies of the prior art are overcome by the method, system,and apparatus of the present invention. For example, as heretoforeunrecognized, it would be beneficial if an electronic device were awareof the current drain by a connected accessory in order to properlyestimate an operational time remaining for the battery of the electronicdevice. In fact, it would be beneficial if the accessory connected tothe electronic device communicated to the electronic device informationrepresentative of the current drain by the connected accessory.

In one embodiment, the accessory(ies) are connected to an electronicdevice and derive power from a battery of the electronic device. Theaccessory reports information regarding the power consumed by theaccessory to the electronic device. The electronic device may theninclude the information in a determination of remaining battery life,which may be subsequently communicated to the user. In one alternativeof this embodiment, the accessory monitors its operational parametersand derives a current draw therefrom. This current draw is reported tothe electronic device. Other alternatives are described below in theDetailed Description.

In another embodiment, accessory(ies) are connected to an electronicdevice, but the accessory(ies) have access to an independent powersupply (e.g., include their own battery). If the accessory does not havean ability to directly communicate to a user the remaining battery lifeof its battery, then the accessory may communicate information regardingthe remaining battery life to the electronic device, which subsequentlycommunicates the remaining battery life of the accessory to the user.This information may be in any of many forms, as explained in greaterdetail below.

The technical advantages of the present invention include, but are notlimited to, the following. It should be understood that particularembodiments may not involve any, much less all, of the followingexemplary technical advantages.

An important technical advantage of the present invention is that itenables a more accurate estimate of remaining battery life of anelectronic device.

Another important technical advantage of the present invention is thatit provides the ability to estimate the total power consumption for boththe electronic device and an accessory connected to the electronicdevice.

Yet another important technical advantage of the present invention isthat it improves the estimation of standby time in, for example, amobile terminal electronic device.

Yet another important technical advantage of the present invention isthe ability to optimally communicate to a user the remaining batterylife for an accessory that may be unable to directly communicate theremaining battery life to the user.

The above-described and other features of the present invention areexplained in detail hereinafter with reference to the illustrativeexamples shown in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the artwill appreciate that the described embodiments are provided for purposesof illustration and understanding and that numerous equivalentembodiments are contemplated herein.

It shall be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” when used inthis specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features,integers, steps, components, etc., but the term does not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,components, groups thereof, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the method and system of the presentinvention may be had by reference to the following detailed descriptionwhen taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary diagram of a mobile terminal connectedto an exemplary accessory in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates exemplary internal circuitry of an exemplary mobileterminal in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3A illustrates exemplary functional blocks of one exemplary mobileterminal in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3B illustrates exemplary functional blocks of one exemplaryaccessory in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3C illustrates exemplary functional blocks of another exemplarymobile terminal in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3D illustrates exemplary functional blocks of another exemplaryaccessory in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3E illustrates an exemplary memory element of the exemplary mobileterminal of FIG. 3C in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3F illustrates an exemplary memory element of the exemplaryaccessory of FIG. 3D in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4A illustrates an exemplary sequence diagram of signals/informationexchanged between a mobile terminal and an accessory in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4B illustrates an exemplary command structure for exchangingsignals/information between the mobile terminal and the accessory ofFIG. 4A in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary method in flowchart form for accuratelycomputing a remaining battery life in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 6A illustrates exemplary functional blocks of an exemplaryaccessory in accordance with another embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 6B illustrates an exemplary method in flowchart form of theembodiment of FIG. 6A in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following description, for purposes of explanation and notlimitation, specific details are set forth, such as particular circuits,logic modules (implemented in, for example, software, hardware,firmware, etc.), techniques, etc. in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one ofordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced inother embodiments that depart from these specific details. In otherinstances, detailed descriptions of well-known methods, devices, logicalcode (hardware, software, firmware, etc.), etc. are omitted so as not toobscure the description of the present invention with unnecessarydetail.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention and its advantages arebest understood by referring to FIGS. 1-6B of the drawings, likenumerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the variousdrawings.

A deficiency with regard to an electronic device determining only thepower that it consumes when estimating remaining battery life is thatsome accessories also use the electronic device's battery as a powersupply. When the electronic device does not know how much current theaccessory(ies) consume(s), the accuracy of the estimated powerconsumption will consequently be too low. Certain embodiments of thepresent invention enable the estimation of the total power consumptionfor both the electronic device and an accessory connected to it.

It should be understood that although exemplary embodiment(s) aredescribed in terms of a mobile terminal (e.g., a wireless mobilestation, a computer with a wireless link, etc.), the present inventionis equally applicable to electronic devices in general. Furthermore,aspects of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) wirelessnetwork standard will be used to describe an embodiment of the presentinvention. However, it should be understood that the principles of thepresent invention are applicable to (in addition to other wirelesscommunication standards (or systems)) electronic devices in general,including those that are battery-powered and to which accessoriessharing the battery of the electronic device may be connected.

It should be noted that accessories for a mobile terminal may include,but are not limited to, portable handsfree implements, infrared (IR)plugs, vibrating notification implements, etc. It should also be notedthat the accessory (e.g., a pager, etc.) may alternatively be physicallylocated within the housing of a battery that supplies power to themobile terminal or other electronic device and is removably attachedthereto.

In one embodiment, the accessory or accessories report how much powerthey are consuming to the electronic device. Each accessory that isconsuming power from the battery of the electronic device reports thisto the electronic device. The information may, for example, be sent withAT commands, as described further below. Whenever the current powerconsumption of the accessory changes, a new report may be issued to theelectronic device. Also, the accessory may send the mean value of thepower consumption at some regular time interval. The accessory mayderive its power consumption information by monitoring its operationalparameters and knowing the corresponding current required for eachoperation.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an exemplary diagram of a mobile terminal 110connected to an exemplary accessory 150 in accordance with the presentinvention is illustrated generally at 100. Although the mobile terminal110 is illustrated as a hand-held mobile phone, the present invention isnot to be so limited. The mobile terminal 110 includes an antenna 115, aspeaker 120, a display 125, a keypad 130, and four connection/interfacepoints/ports 135 (e.g., an external connector with one or more inputpins). Two of the four connection points 135 are power connection points135 c and 135 d, and two of the connection points are communicationconnection points 135 a and 135 b. It should be understood that theconnection points 135 may number more or less than the four shown.Likewise, the number of communication and power connection points 135a,135 b and 135 c,135 d may be more or less than the two shown.

The accessory 150 may be, for example, an infrared adaptor unit, aportable hands-free unit, a vibrating notification mechanism, etc. Theaccessory 150 is also shown as having four connection points 155, two ofwhich are for communication (155 a,155 b) and the other two of which arefor power (155 c,155 d). It should be understood that the accessory unit150 may also have more or less than four connection points 155, and theymay be distributed differently. In other words, the connection points155 may also be for another use (e.g., in addition to communication andpower). Furthermore, the number of communication points 155 a,155 b (or,e.g., power points 155 c,155 d) may be more than or less than the twoshown, for example. The accessory 150 may communicate with the mobileterminal 110 over communication connection lines 195 a,195 b. Theaccessory 150, in an embodiment, receives power from a battery (notshown in FIG. 1) of the mobile terminal 110 over power connection lines195 c,195 d.

Referring now to FIG. 2, exemplary internal circuitry for an exemplarymobile terminal 110 in accordance with the present invention areillustrated. The various exemplary circuitry may be interconnected viaone or more buses 205. The internal circuitry include a battery 210 thatis connected to the power connection points 135 c,135 d and to the otherinternal circuitry. They also include an input/output unit 215 connectedto the communication connection points 135 a,135 b. Also included are atransceiver (TRX) 220, the speaker 120, the display 125, the keypad 130,a microphone 225, and perhaps various other circuits (representedgenerally at 230). The mobile terminal 110 also includes one or moreprocessors 235 and one or more memories 240. Within the memory 240, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a battery lifeapplication part 245 is stored. The battery life application part 245may be, for example, encoded in hardware, software, firmware, or anycombination thereof. The internal circuitry may also include a batterydetector 250. The battery detector 250 includes an ability, amongothers, to determine a remaining total charge in the battery 210 and thecurrent power drain of the battery 210 from internal circuitry of themobile telephone 110.

Referring now to FIG. 3A, exemplary functional blocks of one exemplarymobile terminal in accordance with the present invention areillustrated. The functional blocks of FIG. 3A include a power source 305(e.g., the battery 210 of FIG. 2) connected to the power connectionpoints 135 c,135 d and a communication unit 310 connected to thecommunication connection points 135 a,135 b. They also include variousinternal power sinks 315 that are connected to the power source 305 anddrain the power therefrom. The battery detector 250 (of FIG. 2) maycorrespond to a battery level determiner functional block 320 as well asan (internal) power draw determiner functional block 330. The batterylevel determiner 320 may determine the total charge remaining within thepower source 305. The battery level determiner 320 may also include (orotherwise be associated with) a rate of change determiner functionalblock 325 that determines the rate at which the charge remaining in thepower source 305 is being drained. The internal power draw determiner330 may determine the power being drawn from internal circuitry by, forexample, measuring the rate of consumption of current (e.g., in(milli)amps) by the internal circuitry (e.g., jointly (measure currentdraw by entire set of internal circuitry at once), piece-meal (measureone or more internal circuits sequentially or in parallel and then sum),etc.). The functional blocks of the mobile terminal 110 may also includea battery life remaining computational unit(s) 335. The computationalunit(s) 335 may be realized as part of the battery life application part245, the memory 240, and the processors 235 (as shown in FIG. 2).Alternatively, the computational unit(s) 335 may be, for example, aseparate set of firmware along with a digital signal processor (DSP).

Referring now to FIG. 3B, exemplary functional blocks of one exemplaryaccessory in accordance with the present invention are illustrated. Theexemplary functional blocks include accessory sinks 355, which drawpower from the power source 305 of the mobile terminal 110 (e.g., viathe power connection points 155 c,155 d of the accessory 150, the powerconnection lines 195 c,195 d, and the power connection points 135 c,135d of the mobile terminal 110). They also include an accessory power drawdeterminer functional block 360. The accessory power draw determiner 360may determine the power being extracted from the power source 305 of themobile terminal 110 by, for example, measuring a consumption of current(e.g., in (milli)amps). The exemplary accessory 150 may also include acommunication unit 365. The communication unit 365 of the accessory 150communicates (e.g., via the communication connection points 155 a,155 bof the accessory 150, the communication connection lines 195 a,195 b (ofFIG. 1), and the communication connection points 135 a,135 b of themobile terminal 110) to inform the mobile terminal 110 of the currentpower draw of the accessory 150 (e.g., in current as measured in(milli)amps).

When the present invention is realized in conjunction with a mobileterminal as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the remaining standby time of themobile terminal is very important information to provide to the user. Asalluded to above, it is especially difficult to produce an accurateprediction because the power consumption varies all of the time (e.g.,as a result of the distance between the mobile terminal and a basestation). Nevertheless, the remaining standby time may be estimated inany of a number of ways. The technique addressed above with reference toFIGS. 3A and 3B measures the current power consumption and, from thatmeasurement, calculates the remaining standby time. This has, however, aside effect: power is “lost” in the measuring circuits (e.g., the(internal) power draw determiner 330 and the power draw determiner 360).An alternative technique is to calculate power consumption by knowingcurrent operation parameters (e.g., transmitter power, lights on/off,and so on). In other words, the current power consumption may becalculated from system operational parameters. From this calculation,the power consumption of only the mobile terminal itself is obtainedabsent the teachings of the present invention. However, this alternativemay be extended to the accessory connected to the mobile terminal inaccordance with the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 3C, exemplary functional blocks for anotherexemplary mobile terminal in accordance with the present invention areillustrated. In the mobile terminal 110 (of FIG. 3C), the (internal)power draw determiner 330 (of FIG. 3A) is replaced with an (internal)operational parameter determiner 330′.

Referring now to FIG. 3D, exemplary functional blocks of anotherexemplary accessory in accordance with the present invention areillustrated. In the accessory 150 (of FIG. 3D), the power drawdeterminer 360 (of FIG. 3B) is replaced with an operational parameterdeterminer 360′.

Referring now to FIG. 3E, an exemplary memory element of the exemplarymobile terminal of FIG. 3C in accordance with the present invention isillustrated generally at 370. The memory element 370, which is part ofthe mobile terminal 110 (of FIG. 3C), may be, for example, nonvolatilerandom access memory that is read-only, re-writable memory, etc. Thememory element 370 links various operational parameters of the mobileterminal 110 with the associated current draw. For example, abacklighting that is on may be associated with “x” mA.

Referring now to FIG. 3F, an exemplary memory element of the exemplaryaccessory of FIG. 3D in accordance with the present invention isillustrated generally at 375. The memory element 375, which is part ofthe accessory 150 (of FIG. 3D), may be, for example, nonvolatile randomaccess memory that is read-only, re-writable memory, etc. The memoryelement 375 links various operational parameters of the accessory 150with the associated current draw and/or current code. For example, agiven processing state for the accessory 150 may be associated with “y”mA and/or “z” code. The current code may be provided to the mobileterminal 110 in lieu of the current draw if, for example, the memoryelement 370 includes an entry linking the current code of the accessory150 to a current draw.

Referring now to FIG. 4A, an exemplary sequence diagram ofsignals/information exchanged between a mobile terminal and an accessoryin accordance with one embodiment of the present invention isillustrated generally at 400. The accessory 150 may (optionally) beginthe exchange with an “AT*ECUR=?” signal/information (e.g., command,request, etc.) 410 transmitted to the mobile terminal 110. Referring nowto FIG. 4B, an exemplary command structure for exchangingsignals/information between the mobile terminal and the accessory ofFIG. 4A in accordance with the present invention is illustratedgenerally at 450.

Specifically, an exemplary “AT*ECUR” command structure 450 that may beused in accordance with the principles of the present invention isillustrated. An exemplary command syntax is shown at 460. This commandmay be used to report to the mobile terminal the current consumption fora connected device (e.g., an accessory). The current value reported maybe used to adjust the mobile terminal's charging parameters or todetermine a total current drain. When the external device is connected,for example, the AT command may be initially generated. It may also besent, for example, if the externally connected device changes currentconsumption. Furthermore, it may also be sent as a mean value at regularintervals. One command communicates the current consumption informationwhile another command determines whether the “AT*ECUR” command issupported. Each command may cause either an “OK” or an “ERROR” response.An exemplary “<mamp>:parameter” definition is shown at 470. This“AT*ECUR” command may be used to report to the mobile terminal thecurrent consumption for a connected device as an integer. Dividing thereported integer by “10” provides the current consumption in milliamps,in this exemplary embodiment. An example of an “AT*ECUR” commandexchange communicating 12 mA from the connected device (e.g., accessory150) to the mobile terminal 110 is shown at 480. It should be noted thatthe constant “10” may be any number, and that it depends, for example,on the actual physical limitations and needs of a given apparatus orsystem.

Continuing now with FIG. 4A, the mobile terminal 110, if configured inaccordance with the present invention, may respond with an “OK”affirmative signal/information 420. If the mobile terminal 110 is not soconfigured or fails to understand the request, the mobile terminal 110may respond with an “ERROR” indication. If, however, the mobile terminal110 responds with “OK”, the accessory 150 then transmits an“AT*ECUR=<mamp>” signal/information 430 to the mobile terminal 110. The“<mamp>” variable may correspond to, in one embodiment, the consumptionof current (e.g., in amperage). The mobile terminal 110 responds with an“OK” signal/information 440 to the accessory 150 if the currentconsumption was successfully received and understood. If the mobileterminal 110 does not understand a communication from the accessory 150,the mobile terminal 110 may transmit an “ERROR” indication. Thesignal/information 430 may be transmitted when, for example, theaccessory 150 is initially connected to the mobile terminal 110.Furthermore, the information/signal 430 may be transmitted whenever thecurrent consumption of the accessory 150 changes, at regular intervalsin the form of a mean value, etc.

In another embodiment, the signal/information 430 may be transmitted tothe mobile terminal 110 from the accessory 150 whenever the mobileterminal 110 requests such current consumption information/signal. Inyet another embodiment, the accessory 150 may (e.g., as per an earlierrequest from the mobile terminal 110, automatically, etc.) transmit thecurrent consumption information/signal 430 at periodic (e.g., scheduled,etc.) intervals.

Referring now to FIG. 5, an exemplary method in flowchart form foraccurately computing a remaining battery life in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention is illustrated generally at 500. Anaccessory is connected to an electronic device (block 510). In response,in this example, the accessory responds by transmitting a currentconsumption of the accessory to the electronic device (block 520). Itshould be noted that in block 520 the accessory may transmit anyenergy-related indicator(s). For example, instead of (or in addition to)current consumption, the accessory may transmit any generalpower-related consumption information, a set of operating parameters(e.g., in the form of a code, etc.) from which the electronic device(e.g., the mobile terminal 110) may calculate an energy consumption(e.g., because the mobile terminal 110 stores information linking aparticular operating parameter with a particular energy consumption). Insuch alternative embodiments, the electronic device may determinecurrent consumption from the received energy-related indicator(s).

The electronic device determines an internal current consumption (e.g.,by measuring a current draw, by knowing current draw(s) of activeoperational parameter(s), etc.) (block 530). The electronic deviceincludes both the accessory current consumption and the internal currentconsumption in the calculation(s) for total current consumption (block540). The electronic device then computes remaining battery life (block550). The remaining battery life is subsequently displayed by theelectronic device (block 560). It should be noted that in block 560 theelectronic device (e.g., a mobile terminal) may provide notification tothe user in a manner other than a visual display. For example, theelectronic device may vibrate at a predetermined level of remainingbattery time, it may sound a characteristic audible noise (e.g., such asa predetermined tone or a predetermined number of beeps, etc.), etc. Inthis example, if the accessory changes current consumption (and sonotifies the electronic device) (at block 570), the method of theflowchart 500 may return to block 520. If, on the other hand, theaccessory does not change current consumption (at block 570), the methodof the flowchart 500 may return to block 530.

Referring now to FIG. 6A, exemplary functional blocks of an exemplaryaccessory in accordance with another embodiment of the present inventionis illustrated generally at 600. In this embodiment, the accessory mayalso have a battery 605. The accessory 600 may have no ability todirectly communicate to a user the amount of time remaining for thebattery 605 to supply power. Consequently, in this embodiment, theaccessory 600 transmits to a connected mobile terminal (not explicitlyshown) or any general electronic device information related to aremaining power supply. The transmission may be sent from thecommunication connection points 155 a,155 b to the mobile terminal.Especially in this embodiment, the communication connection points 155a,155 b may be realized (in addition to mechanical, metallic connectionpoints, etc.) as an IR input/output port, a short range radio frequencytransceiver (e.g., a Bluetooth transceiver), etc. The accessory may alsoinclude a power draw determiner 360 and/or an operational parameterdeterminer 360′ (e.g., along with a memory element 375) in order todetermine a power consumption.

In one alternative of this embodiment, the information related to theremaining power supply may correspond to the amount of time remaining inthe life of the accessory's battery 605 so that the mobile terminal maycommunicate (e.g., display) the amount of time remaining in the life ofthe accessory's battery 605 to the user. In another alternative of thisembodiment, the accessory 600 may transmit the current consumption and(optionally) the remaining total charge in the battery 605 to the mobileterminal. The mobile terminal may thereafter determine the remaininglife in the battery 605 and communicate such remaining life to the user.

Referring now to FIG. 6B, an exemplary method in flowchart form of theembodiment of FIG. 6A in accordance with the present invention isillustrated generally at 650. The accessory receives a command to reportpower information (block 655). The command may be received from anelectronic device, from a user directly commanding the accessory toreport power information, from an integrated circuit internal to theaccessory (e.g., at regular intervals, when the current consumptionchanges, etc.), etc. The accessory reports power information to theelectronic device (block 660). The power information may includeremaining battery life, a total charge along with a current consumption(e.g., as measured, as determined from operational parameters, etc.), alist of operational parameter(s), etc. After any appropriatecalculation, memory look-up, etc. as needed, the electronic deviceindicates the remaining battery life to the user (block 665). Theindication may be, for example, visual, audible, feelable, etc.

Although preferred embodiment(s) of the method, system, and apparatus ofthe present invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawingsand described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will beunderstood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiment(s) disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements,modifications, and substitutions without departing from the spirit andscope of the present invention as set forth and defined by the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for determining remaining battery lifeof a battery used in a system and for reporting an indication relatingto remaining battery life to a user, said system including an electronicdevice, an accessory for said electronic device and operativelyconnected to said electronic device, and said battery, said methodcomprising: said accessory determining information relating to powerconsumption of said battery by said accessory; said accessorytransmitting said information to said electronic device; and saidelectronic device reporting said indication relating to remainingbattery life of said battery to said user, said indication based, atleast in part, on said transmitted information.
 2. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein said battery is included in said electronic device,and wherein said method further includes the step of said electronicdevice calculating remaining battery life based, at least in part, onsaid transmitted information.
 3. The method according to claim 2,wherein said step of calculating remaining battery life furthercomprises the step of calculating said remaining battery life based, atleast in part, on power consumption of said electronic device.
 4. Themethod according to claim 2, wherein said step of transmittinginformation relating to power consumption of said battery comprises thestep of transmitting a current consumption.
 5. The method according toclaim 2, wherein said step of transmitting information relating to powerconsumption of said battery comprises the step of transmitting saidinformation using a predetermined command format.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 5, wherein said predetermined command formatcomprises an AT command format.
 7. The method according to claim 2,wherein said step of transmitting information relating to powerconsumption of said battery is performed when at least one of anaccessory connection to said electronic device and an accessory powerconsumption change occur.
 8. The method according to claim 2, furthercomprising the steps of: monitoring, by said accessory, at least oneoperational parameter of said accessory; detecting that said at leastone operational parameter is in an active state; and determining saidinformation relating to power consumption based, at least in part, onsaid at least one operational parameter.
 9. The method according toclaim 2, further comprising the steps of: monitoring, by said accessory,at least one operational parameter of said accessory; detecting thatsaid at least one operational parameter is in an inactive state; anddetermining said information relating to power consumption consideringsaid at least one operational parameter.
 10. The method according toclaim 2, further comprising the steps of: monitoring, by said electronicdevice, at least one operational parameter of said electronic device;detecting that said at least one operational parameter is in an activestate; determining a power consumption of said battery based, at leastin part, on said at least one operational parameter; and wherein saidstep of calculating remaining battery life further comprises the step ofcalculating remaining battery life based, at least in part, on saidpower consumption of said battery.
 11. The method according to claim 2,wherein said step of transmitting information relating to powerconsumption of said battery comprises the step of transmitting a meancurrent consumption at regular intervals.
 12. The method according toclaim 1, wherein said reporting step comprises the step of reportingsaid indication relating to remaining battery life via an output of aman-machine interface (MMI) of said electronic device.
 13. The methodaccording to claim 12, wherein said MMI of said electronic devicecomprises at least one of (i) a display and (ii) a recorded or asynthetic voice.
 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein saidelectronic device comprises a mobile terminal.
 15. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein said accessory comprises at least one of an infraredadapter unit, a portable handsfree unit, a vibrating notification unit,a radio frequency transceiver, and a Bluetooth adapter.
 16. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein said battery is included in saidaccessory.
 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein saidtransmitted information comprises a duration of remaining life of saidbattery.
 18. The method according to claim 16, wherein said transmittedinformation comprises at least one of a current consumption of saidaccessory and a total charge of said battery, and said reporting stepcomprises the step of reporting a derivation of power consumption tosaid user.
 19. The method according to claim 16, wherein said step ofreporting said indication relating to remaining battery life comprisesthe step of displaying at least one of power consumption and aderivation of power consumption on a display of said electronic device.20. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the steps of:monitoring by said accessory, at least one operational parameter of saidaccessory; detecting that said at least one operational parameter is inan active state; measuring a remaining charge of said battery; anddetermining said information relating to power consumption based, atleast in part, on said at least one operational parameter and saidremaining charge of said battery.
 21. A system for determining remainingbattery life of a battery and for reporting an indication relating toremaining battery life to a user, said system including: an electronicdevice; at least one accessory for said electronic device, said at leastone accessory operatively connected to said electronic device; a batteryfor powering at least said at least one accessory; said at least oneaccessory including a determiner which determines information relatingto power consumption of said battery by said at least one accessory; acommunication link between said electronic device and said at least oneaccessory, said at least one accessory transmitting said informationrelating to power consumption to said electronic device via saidcommunication link; and said electronic device reporting an indicationrelating to remaining battery life of said battery to said user based,at least in part, on said transmitted information.
 22. The systemaccording to claim 21, wherein said battery is included in saidelectronic device, and wherein said electronic device includes at leastone logic module for computing remaining battery life, and wherein saidat least one logic module computes said remaining battery life based, atleast in part, on said transmitted information.
 23. The system accordingto claim 22, wherein said at least one logic module computes saidremaining battery life based, at least in part, on a current consumptionof said at least one accessory and an internal current consumption ofsaid electronic device.
 24. The system according to claim 23, whereinsaid internal current consumption of said electronic device isdetermined by considering at least one internal operation parameter,said at least one internal operation parameter comprising at least oneof transceiving power, display status, and keypad lighting status. 25.The system according to claim 22, wherein said electronic device furtherincludes at least one memory element, said at least one memory elementhaving at least one entry that links at least one operational parameterto a corresponding current consumption.
 26. The system according toclaim 25, wherein said at least one operational parameter corresponds toan operational parameter of said at least one accessory.
 27. The systemaccording to claim 25, wherein said at least one operational parametercorresponds to an operational parameter of said electronic device. 28.The system according to claim 22, wherein said at least one accessoryincludes at least one memory element, said at least one memory elementhaving at least one entry that links at least one operational parameterto a corresponding current consumption.
 29. The system according toclaim 21, wherein said electronic device comprises a mobile terminal.30. The system according to claim 21, wherein said battery is includedin said at least one accessory.
 31. The system according to claim 30,wherein said information relating to power consumption transmitted tosaid electronic device comprises information related to remainingbattery life of said battery.
 32. The system according to claim 30,wherein said information relating to power consumption transmitted tosaid electronic device comprises a current consumption and a totalremaining charge of said battery, said electronic device determiningsaid remaining battery life of said battery therefrom.
 33. The systemaccording to claim 30, wherein said determiner measures currentconsumption by said at least one accessory.
 34. The system according toclaim 30, wherein said current consumption is determined from monitoringat least one operational parameter of said at least one accessory, saidat least one operational parameter known to correspond to apredetermined current consumption.
 35. An accessory for an electronicdevice, comprising: at least one power drain; a monitoring unit whichmonitors an operational parameter associated with said at least onepower drain and determines when said at least one power drain isdraining power; at least one memory element, said at least one memoryelement including at least one entry linking said operational parameterwith a corresponding current consumption; and a communication unit fortransmitting said corresponding current consumption to said electronicdevice.
 36. The accessory according to claim 35, further comprising: abattery; and a calculation unit for determining a remaining battery lifeof said battery based, at least in part, on said corresponding currentconsumption; and wherein said communication unit transmits saidremaining battery life of said battery to said electronic device.